LBT Spring Brochure 2016 by Lawrence Batley Theatre

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 www.thelbt.org

WHAT’S ON Spring / Summer 2016

21RS

Y E A PIRINNGCE INS OF ORMA F PER

Hello and welcome to the Spring/Summer 2016 season at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

THE LBT PEOPLE GILLIAN JOHNSON, Press and Marketing Officer

Beginning our 21st birthday last season was an amazing feeling, and we really enjoyed revisiting the theatre’s history, achievements and developments as part of the festivities. We continue to celebrate in 2016, with a season full of reminders of what we do best. In recent years we have built an excellent reputation, regionally and nationally, for showcasing contemporary dance – this season we’re pleased to present the only Yorkshire date for national dance company wales (p12), and a new work, men & girls dance (p13), which resulted from choreographic research that we invested in.

After a packed and passionate start last season our Pay What You Decide series (p14-15) of new work continues. If you haven’t tried it yet come and be part of the future of theatre.

We continue our exploration into contemporary circus with opus 7 (p11), kin (p12) and tipping point (p13).

We hope that you’ll join us to help make our 21st birthday year an unforgettable one.

Also this season we continue our partnerships with other arts organisations in the area. We’re delighted to be hosting three events as part of Huddersfield Literature Festival (p7), and co-producing HD100 (p9) with one of our resident companies Chol Theatre – a play made in Huddersfield for Huddersfield. Our Home Programme (p16-18) shows off the range of other work being made here by local people.

Our mission is Inspiring Performance and within these pages we’re confident we can bring that promise to you.

VICTORIA FIRTH Director

KAREN O’NEILL Deputy Director

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOB? I’ve very recently joined the marketing team. We’re responsible for a wide variety of work such as putting this brochure together, liaising with the companies behind the performances, creating posters and leaflets, the website, social media and working with press – generally letting everyone know what’s happening at the lbt. WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THIS? I worked in marketing for a software company after graduating from the University of Manchester. The arts are what I am passionate about so I decided to make a career change and haven’t looked back! The lbt appealed to me because it not only provides high quality live performance but also has a very strong commitment to its local community. WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING HERE? The variety and the passion that everyone has at the lbt. A lot of hard work goes into the end result but it is definitely worth it. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON? I’m really looking forward to folk and the devil inside, but I’m also keen to see tipping point as I haven’t seen anything like it before.

SEASON TICKET

DISCOUNTS UNDER 26s

KIRKLEES PASSPORT HOLDERS

Under 26s are entitled to tickets for just £7 and Kirklees Passport holders can claim a discount of £3 off full price tickets for many shows in our Spring/Summer season.* Simply look for the icons and give us a call on 01484 430528 or visit our website to book your tickets. *Ts & Cs apply. Please bring ID as you may be asked for proof of age. Please remember to bring your Passport with you to the performance as proof may be required. To apply for a Kirklees Passport, visit the Kirklees Council website or call 01484 221000.

SEASON PREVIEW

CHOOSE FROM THE SIX PERFORMANCES BELOW AND ENJOY THREE SHOWS

FOR

£42

FOUR SHOWS

saving you up to £12!

FOR

£52

saving you up to £18!

Our Season Ticket lets you hand-pick a selection from our latest programme of thrilling, inspiring performance for a much lower price. All shows must be booked at the same time. Terms and conditions apply.

TUE 2 FEBRUARY

Join us for a further unveiling of our 21st birthday season with Director of the lbt Victoria Firth and special guests from our forthcoming programme. Director of hd100, Amanda Huxtable, will be discussing the making of the surprising, funny and emotional take on living in Huddersfield. Joanne Harris will talk about her appearance in the upcoming huddersfield literature festival, and choreographer and artistic director of Fevered Sleep David Harradine reveals a unique insight into men & girls dance.

SHAFTED! Page 4

THE DEVIL INSIDE Page 6

STONES IN HIS POCKETS Page 8

THE MERRY WIVES Page 10

FOLK Page 12

TIPPING POINT Page 13

HD100 Page 9

Tickets are completely free of charge, but availability is limited – book yours now for a fascinating night in the company of some great theatrical talent. MAIN STAGE 6.30pm – 8.30pm TICKETS FREE

THE LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS FUNDERS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS

Registered office Legal Services, Kirklees Council, 4th Floor, Civic Centre 1, Huddersfield HD1 2NF Registered number 1504033 England. Managed by Kirklees Theatre Trust Charity number 510693, a company limited by guarantee

PERFORMANCE THE JOHN GODBER COMPANY & THEATRE ROYAL WAKEFIELD

As Director of the lbt it is my great pleasure and privilege to be able to seek out the best in live performance and invite those companies and artists to bring their work to lbt.

SHAFTED!

THU 11 & FRI 12 FEBRUARY

Over the last 21 years the lbt has established Huddersfield as an essential destination for some of the uk’s most important companies and as such we can give you exclusive access to great work – three only Yorkshire dates in this season alone. We are also delighted to premiere hd100 by one of our resident companies Chol Theatre. Here’s to another 21 years of inspiring performance!

In 1984 the miners were defeated, their families torn apart and the media circus went home. John Godber’s epic new play traces what happened to miner Harry and his wife Dot in the thirty years after the strike. Suddenly they were thrown together with new battles to fight and new jobs to hold down – life would never be the same again. Fuelled with eye watering honesty and true Yorkshire grit, this is a hilarious account of those whose jobs had been taken, communities destroyed, and how they fought back after being shafted! Following the successes of Teechers and Bouncers, one of Britain’s most successful playwrights John Godber returns to the lbt, this time performing in his new play with wife Jane Thornton.

OF IN A RS PERF SPIRING ORM ANC E

‘Godber is at the top of his game in this his 68th play’ THE STAGE MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £16 - £10 WITH A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION Thu 11 February

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS MON 15 & TUE 16 FEBRUARY

SAVER FAMILY R £36* O PLE F O

4 PE

ast ude at le *must incl tickets s 26 r two unde

ONLY IRE H YORKASTE D

New International Encounter and Lawrence Batley Theatre invite you to join them on the greatest adventure ever imagined… Join Phileas Fogg and his faithful servant Passepartout in their audacious plan to navigate the globe in just 80 days. With only a bag full of money, a pocket watch and a wager to win, Fogg sets out on the most celebrated literary journey of all time.

‘an exceptionally witty adventure’ THE GUARDIAN

Based on Jules Verne’s famous novel and combining clowning, live music and storytelling, around the world in 80 days takes you on a high-speed, madcap, transcontinental race against the clock.

MAIN STAGE 2.15pm & 7.00pm TICKETS £14 - £10 FRIENDS TICKETS £12 Supported by Friends of the Lawrence Batley Theatre

One policeman, two comrades, three cab rides, four continents, five trains, six ships and just 80 days to get back home!

Young people aged 6-9 can be part of our February half term Play in a Week, based on this show (p29). 5

PERFORMANCE MUSIC THEATRE WALES

HUDDERSFIELD LITERATURE FESTIVAL

THE DEVIL INSIDE

JOANNE HARRIS AND THE STORYTIME BAND

BY STUART MACRAE AND LOUISE WELSH FRI 26 FEBRUARY

FRI 4 MARCH

PHOTO CREDIT KYTE PHOTOGRAPHY

Two friends stumble upon a bottle that will change their lives, a bottle that can grant any wish. But there’s a catch and the bottle demands a payment… Will the pair find their happy-ever-after or will the bottle be their undoing? the devil inside is a gritty, glittery, Faustian folktale, set firmly in the 21st century. Inspired by The Bottle Imp, a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, this brand new opera echoes his most famous tale The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Music Theatre Wales tour contemporary opera across the uk. Over the years they have commissioned 15 operas and collaborated with some of the world’s greatest living composers including Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies, Philip Glass and Mark-Anthony Turnage. MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £19 - £10 Fundraising event in aid of Kirklees Theatre Trust

PRE-SHOW DISCUSSION SYNGENTA CELLAR 6.30pm with Michael McCarthy, co-founder and Joint Artistic Director of Music Theatre Wales.

YO ROKN LY S DATEH I R E

Following the sucess of last year’s event, hlf brings another magical evening of storytelling and music from the bestselling author of Chocolat and The Gospel of Loki. Joanne is a passionate advocate of storytelling in a variety of different media, from her Twitter #storytime tales to film, theatre, opera and choral work. Here, with the help of Paul, Kevin and Matt (The Storytime Band), she brings you a collection of new, unpublished stories. Originally written live on Twitter, they are now set to music and brought to the stage, with songs to accompany them.

SYNGENTA CELLAR 7.00pm TICKETS £10

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org HUDDERSFIELD LITERATURE FESTIVAL

LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE

HUDDERSFIELD LITERATURE FESTIVAL

POLARI UP NORTH

QUEENIE’S COFFEE HOUSE NIGHTS

THE 101 GREATEST PLAYS WITH MICHAEL BILLINGTON

SAT 5 MARCH

MON 7 MARCH & MON 9 MAY

SUN 13 MARCH

PHOTO CREDIT KRYSTYNA FITZGERALD-MORRIS

PHOTO CREDIT NATASHA BILLINGTON

What makes a great play? Does the definition change in different eras? How can you choose between Hamlet and King Lear?

Entertaining, enthralling and eclectic – polari returns to Huddersfield. Award winning journalist and author Paul Burston presents four talented lgbt performers with universal appeal.

The lbt presents an evening of spoken word, acoustic music and performance enjoyed in a relaxed setting over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

Stevan Alcock – author of Blood Relatives, set during the Yorkshire Ripper murders.

For more information contact rose@thelbt.org or follow Queenie’s Coffee Shop on Twitter, @QueeniesHudds.

Britain’s longest standing theatre critic, The Guardian’s Michael Billington obe, talks to Times critic Samantha Marlowe about his personal and provocative new book: The 101 Greatest Plays.

Open mic spots are also available – to book your place, email rose@thelbt.org in advance or sign up on the night.

Come and celebrate the art of the dramatist and find out how Michael Billington made his selection, in what promises to be an enthralling discussion.

QUEENIE’S COFFEE SHOP 7.00pm – 9.00pm TICKETS £3 payable on the door

SYNGENTA CELLAR 1.00pm TICKETS £10

Sophia Blackwell – a vintage-inspired glamourpuss with the mouth of a spoken-word spitfire. VG Lee – stand-up, short story writer and author of four novels, including Diary of a Provincial Lesbian. Kirsty Logan – ‘professional daydreamer’, poet and novelist; winner of the 2015 Polari First Book Prize.

SYNGENTA CELLAR 7.45pm TICKETS £8

PERFORMANCE 20 STORIES HIGH & THEATRE-RITES

THE BROKE ‘N’ BEAT COLLECTIVE MON 21 MARCH

THE THEATRE CHIPPING NORTON AND THE DUKES LANCASTER, IN ASSOCIATION WITH OXFORDSHIRE THEATRE COMPANY

STONES IN HIS POCKETS BY MARIE JONES WED 30 MARCH

ONLY E YORKSHEIR DAT

A mash up of hip hop, theatre and puppetry, the broke ‘n’ beat collective is a raw, gritty, funny and moving gig that explores the hardships faced by young people in the UK today.

County Kerry, Ireland. A quiet Irish village community is turned upside down with the arrival of a Hollywood film crew, looking for the ‘real’ Ireland for their latest schmaltzy blockbuster.

20 Stories High and Theatre-Rites join forces to bring together four amazing artists: beat-boxer Hobbit, b-boy Ryan LoGisTic Harston, singer/rapper Elektric and puppeteer Mohsen Nouri to form the broke ‘n’ beat collective.

Two actors play a vast array of eccentric and lovable characters in this universally loved, worldwide comic theatre sensation. Written with poignancy and sincerity and performed at breakneck pace, this play has won the prestigious Olivier and Evening Standard awards for Best Comedy and was nominated for several Tony awards.

One of the UK’s leading young people’s theatre companies 20 Stories High (Black, Melody Loses Her Mojo), return to the lbt for an evening full of energy, gripping tales, transfixing poetry and hip-hop puppetry like you’ve never seen before. ‘Theatre-Rites, a company of genuine originality and flair’

‘Hilarious, lovable and at times almost breath-taking’

THE GUARDIAN

THE SCOTSMAN

MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £12 - £10 WITH A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION 8

MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £16 - £10

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org CHOL THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LBT

HD100

THU 14 & FRI 15 APRIL MON 21 MARCH

W RL PREO MIERDE

Chol Theatre presents the world premiere of hd100. hd100, a snapshot of Huddersfield today made via interviews with 100 local people, is a surprising, funny and emotional take on living in Huddersfield. lbt resident company Chol Theatre makes theatre that responds to identity and place, creating contemporary work that explores people’s relationship to where they live. Director Amanda Huxtable (Bag Lady, Totally Over You) and writer/producer Susan Burns (Beast Market, Have You Seen Evangeline?) have teamed up to place 100 lives side by side, creating a story of a day, right here, a moment in time. hd100 celebrates our hometown’s culture, residents, workers and visitors. Huddersfield - where people with or without local ties are at the centre of their own universe. MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £14 - £10 9

PERFORMANCE NORTHERN BROADSIDES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW VIC THEATRE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

THE MERRY WIVES WED 4 - SAT 7 MAY

Sir John Falstaff is past his prime and skint! Vain rogue that he is, he attempts, rather clumsily, to seduce a couple of well-to-do wives... but Mistress Page and Mistress Ford get wise to his plan and scheme to exact revenge with hilarious and unimaginable consequences. If you like your Shakespeare light, funny and wickedly entertaining then look no further. the merry wives is bursting at the seams with verbal fun, physical comedy and a bevy of cunningly colourful characters. Northern Broadsides’ (The Winter’s Tale, She Stoops to Conquer, An August Bank Holiday Lark) distinctive charisma and zest for performance squeezes every last ounce of comedy gold from this affectionately calamitous tale that will tickle your funny bone and poke a jovial finger in the eye of middle England. ‘Outstanding Shakespeare: Shakespeare to get excited about and to thrill the senses’ THE STAGE ON NORTHERN BROADSIDES' TWELFTH NIGHT MAIN STAGE 7.30pm SATURDAY MATINEE 2.30pm TICKETS £19 - £10 ALL MATINEE TICKETS £15 WITH A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION Wed 4 May 10

ARTEMIS THEATRE COMPANY

RIGHTS OF PASSAGE BY CLARE SUMMERSKILL TUE 17 MAY

Based on interviews with lgbt asylum seekers, rights of passage shares the experiences of those who come to the UK from anti-gay countries where their lives are under threat. It unveils the issue of those who come to the UK and often live under the radar, terrified of being forcefully returned to their country of origin. Dramatically moving, rights of passage is written by the brilliant Clare Summerskill (Once Upon a Lifetime and Gateway to Heaven). Artemis Theatre was founded by Clare and is committed to telling the stories of hidden and marginalised communities.

MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £14 - £10 WITH A POST-SH0W DISCUSSION

IN MOTION

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org CIRCA TSUICA

OPUS 7

PRESENTED BY CIRCUS EVOLUTION SUN 28 & MON 29 FEB

PHOTO CREDIT MILAN SZYPURA

lbt has become known as West Yorkshire’s capital of contemporary dance and this season is no exception with the only regional performance of the National Dance Company Wales. Yorkshire choreographer David Harradine brings his company Fevered Sleep back home with their new project men & girls dance which lbt supported in development through the Jerwood Choreographic Exchange. We are also pleased to continue our exploration of contemporary circus. Circus Evolution, the national consortium of which we are a part, has been awarded a further two years of funding by the Arts Council to do this exciting work – so watch this space...

Welcome to the mischievous and playful world of Circa Tsuica. A company of cracking musicians and daredevil acrobats, they serve a cocktail of funky brass beats and awe-inspiring physical feats. Throughout this upbeat spectacle, the performers play a joyous blend of ripping rhythms and show off their circus skills without dropping a note – or each other! Looking for a rip-roaring good time? Join them as they shake the party in this fun and uproarious show. Circa Tsuica is a collective of unique French entertainers who tour the world performing their feel-good shows. Adding to the revelry will be local young musicians from the Kirklees Youth Brass Band. ‘Circa Tsuica has invented the circus brass band, mastering acrobatics and musical rhythm they turn art into a weapon of mass construction.’

21 YE ARS

OF INS PIR ING PER FOR MA NCE

IN MOTION SAVER BUY

ANY TWO IN MOT ION SHO WS AND SAV E

£4 OFF

THE TOTA L TICK ET PRIC E

LEMON MAG MAIN STAGE Sun 28 Feb 7.00pm Mon 29 Feb 7.30pm TICKETS £14 - £10 WITH A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION Sun 28 Feb

SAVER FAMILY R £36* O PLE F O

4 PE

ast ude at le *must incl ts r 26s ticke de un o tw

IN MOTION NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY WALES

FOLK

THU 10 MARCH

IN MOTION SAVER

BUY ANY TWO IN MOTION SHOWS AND SAVE

£4 OFF

THE TOTAL TICKET PRICE

KIN

THU 7 APRIL

O YO R KNSLY H DATE I R E

Award winning National Dance Company Wales presents vibrant and exciting dance by some of the very best European choreographers. ndcwales return to the lbt this spring with three thrilling pieces, including folk, created by ndcwales’ Artistic Director and New Adventures Award winner Caroline Finn, Alexander Ekman’s witty and high octane tuplet, and the vibrant piece a mighty wind by Jeroen Verbruggen that captures the intensity of a storm, set against the power generated by an alternative rock music concert. MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £16 - £10 WITH A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION WATCH DANCE CLASS Join National Dance Company Wales in their watch dance class. If you’re a photographer, artist, or simply interested in dance, this is a perfect opportunity to sketch, photograph or just watch world-class dancers in movement. TIME 12:45pm TICKETS £3.50 with tea and cake

BARELY METHODICAL TROUPE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LBT

After blasting onto the uk circus scene in 2014, Britain’s hottest young acrobats Barely Methodical Troupe (Bromance) have added another three members to their team and now return to the lbt with a sneak peek of their brand new show kin. Combining exceptional acrobatic skills with contemporary dance, parkour, b-boying and tricking, bmt explore ideas with wit and humour. Falling and catching, trust and balance, tumbling and flying are the stock and trade of the circus performer and in kin the Total Theatre Award winners use this physicality as a way of exploring the human condition and the relationships that structure our lives. ‘a jaw droppingly magnificent show’ THE STAGE ON BROMANCE

MAIN STAGE 7.45pm TICKETS £12 - £10 Fundraising event in aid of Kirklees Theatre Trust

F I R ST LO O K

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org OCKHAM’S RAZOR

FEVERED SLEEP

TIPPING POINT

MEN & GIRLS DANCE

THU 19 & FRI 20 MAY

O N LY YO R K S H IR E DATE

Following the sell-out success of Not Until We Are Lost, Ockham’s Razor return with their new full length production tipping point. Set in the round with the audience drawn in close, the action veers from catastrophe to mastery. Poles are balanced on fingertips, hung from the roof, lashed, climbed, swung from and walked along, they become forests, cross roads and pendulums. The performers balance, climb and cling to this teetering world, supporting each other as they wrestle the shift. They must decide whether to rail against the chaos, or ride it out, allowing life to tilt towards the tipping point. tipping point features a multi-layered surround sound musical landscape especially composed by Adem Ilham & Quinta who have previously worked with Radiohead, Hot Chip and Bat For Lashes. ‘Britain’s most innovative aerial theatre group’ TOTAL THEATRE MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £14 Fundraising event in aid of Kirklees Theatre Trust

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH FUEL FRI 3 & SAT 4 JUNE

O N LY I R E H O Y R KASTE D

men & girls dance brings together two very different groups of performers: men who dance professionally and girls from Huddersfield who dance for fun. At times playful, at times provocative, men & girls dance celebrates the rights of adults and children to be together, to play together and to dance together. It’s a joyful celebration of tenderness, empathy, and love. Fevered Sleep has an international reputation for making exquisitely crafted and surprising performances that invite people to view the world in different ways. ‘Beautiful, funny, touching and completely original.’ THE TELEGRAPH ON FEVERED SLEEP’S ON AGEING MAIN STAGE (STUDIO FORMAT) 7.30pm TICKETS £12 WITH A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION 13

PAY WHAT YOU DECIDE HARRY GILES

As part of our 21st birthday celebrations we are proud to bring you this hand-picked selection of the most exciting new companies around, demonstrating the creativity and innovation of today’s theatre makers. lbt and the artists are so passionate about this work that we invite you to try it on a ‘pay what you decide’ basis – just book a place via Box Office, see what you think, and at the end of the night pay what you decide. All monies go directly to the companies performing. ALL SHOWS SYNGENTA CELLAR 7.45pm

Y EA RS

OF IN SP IR IN G PE RF OR MA NC E

EVERYTHING I BOUGHT AND HOW IT MADE ME FEEL

J FERGUS EVANS AND RHIANNON ARMSTRONG

ROVE

MON 14 MARCH

MON 8 FEBRUARY

Harry’s got a problem. Maybe you do too. He keeps buying things to feel better, but they just make him more miserable. So he started keeping a diary... For a full year, poet and performer Harry logged every transaction he made on an online blog. In painstaking detail, he wrote about how each purchase made him feel – his hopes, dreams, fears, and utter failure to come to a liveable compromise with consumerism. everything i bought and how it made me feel asks why we buy what we do and how we respond emotionally to consumerism.

For anyone who has ever tried to untangle a family anecdote, or wished they knew more about where they came from. Using poetry and live folk music, J Fergus Evans explores how our family histories are shaped and how they shape us. ‘Simply incredible... Intimate and touching.’ THEATRE FULL STOP

BE FESTIVAL

BEST OF BE FESTIVAL

MON 25 APRIL

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org

Birmingham’s boundary smashing festival of international performance takes to the road on a whirlwind journey of European theatre, dance and circus. Experience the highlights from the 2015 edition as three daring solo performances land in Huddersfield – each ready to play with audience expectation.

PROPER JOB THEATRE COMPANY

PROTO-TYPE THEATER

BY MARTIN CRIMP MON 23 MAY

A MACHINE THEY’RE SECRETLY BUILDING

FEWER EMERGENCIES

MON 20 JUNE

A humorous and honest one-woman show about love, chemistry and excess, #sobrejulieta sees Carlota Gaviño from Madrid try to win our hearts in this stripped-back new take on Romeo and Juliet. From Italy comes quintetto by tida, the first prize award winner at last year’s festival; a razor sharp, funny and physical theatre piece that packs a serious punch. Irish performer Darragh McLoughlin will invite spectators to determine what they watch, prompting their eyes to open and close during a multitude of rapid scene changes. the whistle is packed with deft circus skills and underpinned by a hidden narrative.

An unhappy marriage, a school shooting and an abandoned child, fewer emergencies explores a thought provoking take on modern British life. fewer emergencies is a set of three short plays that will be performed by actors trained in the Russian theatre technique of Meyerhold’s Biomechanics to bring a rarely seen physical dimension to this contemporary piece, applied for the first time to modern British writing. Proper Job Theatre Company return to the lbt following the success of Nosferatu last autumn.

From what might be a news desk, an office, a bedroom, a bunker under a mountain or a theatre, two people speak up, speak out, blow the whistle and lift the veil on the insidious machine of surveillance. a machine they’re secretly building charts a course from the Top Secret secrets of wwi intelligence (via the moon, 1972’s Chess World Championships, a disco in Oklahoma and the cafeteria at cern) through to 9/11, the erosion of privacy, Edward Snowden and to the terror of a future that might already be upon us.

‘Some of the most innovative work being made across Europe.’ THE GUARDIAN ON BE FESTIVAL WITH A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION 15

HOME PROGRAMME JIMBO PRODUCTIONS

lbt was founded to provide Huddersfield with a dedicated venue for live performance, and work made locally, right here in Huddersfield, has always been at the heart of the theatre’s programme. Both long established and new groups of volunteer artists, musicians, choreographers, directors and stage people have honed their craft and their unique knowledge of the lbt stages to bring you work that we just couldn’t show otherwise: big production musicals, a whole canon of well-loved plays and even a new story or two. We are extremely honoured at lbt to be home to such a large family of companies, and to host locally produced work of such exceptional quality.

21 Y E A RS

IN G O F IN SP IR NCE PE R FO R M A

YORKSHIRE MIXTURES 3 TUE 16 - SAT 20 FEBRUARY

A TASTE OF HONEY

TUE 8 - SAT 12 MARCH

BUY THIS SHO W AND THE 39 STEP S (P18 )

FOR ON LY

£20

After the sell-out productions of Faversham and Yorkshire Mixtures 2, Jimbo Productions return to the lbt to celebrate more new writing.

Written by Shelagh Delaney aged just 19, a taste of honey is one of the great defining and taboo-breaking plays of the 1950s.

yorkshire mixtures 3 is a double bill of intriguing and humorous plays by award winning screenwriter Ben Sweet and playwright Stan Sharp.

Feisty teenager Jo takes up with a black sailor after her mother Helen runs off with a car salesman, only to be left alone and pregnant. She invites art student Geoff to move in and assume the role of a surrogate parent until, misguidedly, he sends for Helen – unravelling their unconventional setup.

all the way up is a stage adaptation of a short film which was directed by David Jason and is set in the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds. the park bench concludes the trilogy of plays that Stan Sharp has written, which is full of Northern humour and re-introduces us to two old friends.

SYNGENTA CELLAR 7.45pm TICKETS £10 16

HUDDERSFIELD THESPIANS

In an explosive celebration of the female spirit’s vulnerabilities and strengths in a deprived, restless world, a taste of honey depicts working-class life in post-war Salford, shot through with love, humour, and jazz. SYNGENTA CELLAR 7.15pm SATURDAY MATINEE 2.00pm TICKETS £12

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org WOODHOUSE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY

HUDDERSFIELD LIGHT OPERA COMPANY

FLASHDANCE

42ND STREET

THE MUSICAL TUE 15 - SAT 19 MARCH

THE MUSICAL MON 25 - SAT 30 APRIL

Set in Pittsburgh, usa, flashdance tells the story of 19 year old Alex, a welder by day and flash dancer by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy.

42nd street is a musical celebration of Broadway – focusing on the story of aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer, who dreams of being a star.

Based on the iconic 80's film, flashdance is an unmistakably unique musical about holding onto your dreams and love, against all odds. The show features an iconic score, including the smash hits Maniac, Gloria and the Academy Award winning title track Flashdance – What a Feeling, as well as ten original songs created especially for the musical. MAIN STAGE 7.30pm SATURDAY MATINEE 2.15pm TICKETS £14 - £10 + selected concessions Book by Tom Hedley & Robert Cary Music by Robbie Roth Lyrics by Robert Carey & Robbie Roth Based on the Paramount Picture film

Screenplay by Tom Hedley & Joe Eszteraas Story by Tom Hedley This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited.

Originally produced in the West End by Christopher Malcolm, David Ian, Steven Baruch, Tom Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel and Transamerica with Executive Producer Tom Hedley in association with Paramount Pictures

Watch Peggy experience the highs and lows of the stage, as she auditions for a new musical. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, will Peggy get her big break? With magnificent scenery, dazzling choreography and musical hits including You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me, We’re In the Money, Lullaby of Broadway, Shuffle Off to Buffalo and Forty-Second Street, this fabulous show will leave you tap dancing in your seat.

MAIN STAGE 7.15pm SATURDAY MATINEE 2.15pm TICKETS £18 - £2 + selected concessions With music by Harry Warren Lyrics by Al Dubin Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes

Original direction and dances by Gower Champion Originally Produced on Broadway by David Merrick By arrangement with MusicScope and Stage Musicals Limited of New York

HOME PROGRAMME HUDDERSFIELD GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY

DICK AND LOTTIE

HUDDERSFIELD THESPIANS

HMS PINAFORE & COX AND BOX

WILDEST DREAMS

THE 39 STEPS

WED 1 - SAT 4 JUNE

TUE 7 - SAT 11 JUNE

Ralph Rackstraw, a humble sailor on the crew of the hms Pinafore, falls for Josephine, the Captain’s daughter. In a tale of forbidden love, will the boy ever get his girl?

Possibly Alan Ayckbourn’s darkest comedy, Dick and Lottie return to the lbt with wildest dreams, a play about a fantasy world that starts to enter the real one…

One of the most enduringly popular of Gilbert and Sullivan’s great comic creations, hms pinafore has plenty of lively choruses, memorable tunes and characters – love-sick Ralph and Josephine, the pompous Captain and Little Buttercup, who reveals her secret at the end of the opera.

Stanley, Hazel, Warren and Rick make the weekly escape from their real life nightmares into a roleplaying board game populated by dragons and monsters. But how clear is the dividing line between what they choose to be and what they really are? Enter Marcie. Loveable, understanding, sympathetic Marcie, who is destined to become a demon to haunt their wildest dreams.

MAIN STAGE 7.15pm SATURDAY MATINEE 2.15pm TICKETS £14.50 - £7.50 + selected concessions 18

FOR ONLY

£20

WED 11 - SAT 14 MAY

As an extra treat, hms pinafore is preceded by curtain-raiser cox and box. The libretto, written by F C Burnard, is an adaptation of J M Morton’s farce Box and Cox.

BUY THIS SHOW AND A TASTE OF HONEY (P16)

SYNGENTA CELLAR 7.45pm SATURDAY MATINEE 2.00pm TICKETS £10

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have the 39 steps, a fast-paced whodunit film spoof! This award winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a cast of just four), handcuffs, an on-stage plane crash, missing fingers and some good old fashioned romance. A riotous blend of talented performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, the 39 steps amounts to an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure.

MAIN STAGE 7.30pm SATURDAY MATINEE 2.15pm TICKETS £14 - £10

IMAGINE

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org NORTHERN BALLET

Our Imagine strand provides the first steps into live performance for children under ten and their families.

TORTOISE & THE HARE SAT 6 FEBRUARY

It’s a world of story and invention, promising the unforgettable experience of sharing in a child’s delight. This season sees storytelling, puppetry, dance, technology and cinema and animation. The future of imagination starts here... 'I have never seen an audience of children so silent and captured by any display until now' WHAT’S GOOD TO DO

21 YEARS

OF INSPIRING PERFORMANCE

IMAGINE SAVER

3 SHOWS FOR £1 8 4 SHOWS FOR £2 0* *MUS T BE BOOK ED TOGE THER

Once upon a time there was a speedy Hare who never stopped talking about how fast he could run. Tired of being teased for his slowness, Tortoise challenged him to a race. No one thought he could win, but life is full of surprises! Bringing this much-loved Aesop fable to life, tortoise & the hare is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre. Multiple award winning Northern Ballet return to the lbt following the sell-out successes of Ugly Duckling, The Three Little Pigs and Elves & the Shoemaker.

‘Delightfully performed’ THE STAGE MAIN STAGE 2.00pm, 4.00pm & 6.00pm TICKETS £7 RUNNING TIME 40 minutes AGE RECOMMENDATION 3 - 10 years 19

IMAGINE CLYDEBUILT PUPPET THEATRE

TOM DALE COMPANY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOKO DANCE

ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER

DIGITOPIA

One good turn deserves another.

A dancing digital wonderland.

A poor shoemaker has only one pair of shoes left and not enough money to pay his rent. However, with the help of two mischievous elves, he makes some unusual shoes that are very much appreciated and rewards the elves in return.

Dotty’s friend Hex is a simple two dimensional line. His favourite shape is a hexagon. He can make angles and the most he can make is six, but one day he really wants to make a curve. With a lot of effort he learns to bend, then multiply, and suddenly he can turn into anything he wants to, eventually popping into three dimensions. Join Dotty as she follows Hex into his fantastical digital world, setting off on a rollercoaster ride where straight lines curve and sound is seen.

A fun adaption of the Grimm’s fairy tale is retold with the help of beautiful elf puppets, objects, and of course, lots of lovely shoes!

Tom Dale Company is renowned for extraordinary performance projects that integrate urban influenced contemporary dance with electronic music and digital art. MOKO Dance is a national dance partnership dedicated to opening the eyes of children and their families to the power of dance.

TUE 29 MARCH

SAT 19 MARCH

MAIN STAGE (STUDIO FORMAT) 2.30pm TICKETS £7 RUNNING TIME 50 minutes AGE RECOMMENDATION 5 - 11 years

SYNGENTA CELLAR 11.00am & 2.00pm TICKETS £7 RUNNING TIME 45 minutes AGE RECOMMENDATION 3 - 10 years 20

STAY AND PLAY The stay and play post show workshop with Tom Dale Company is ideal for 5-11 year olds, exploring dance and technology in a fun, interactive way. As there is limited availability, pre-booking is essential. TICKETS £3 RUNNING TIME 30 minutes

ONLY YORKSHIRE DATE

‘A fascinating integration of live dancing and digital technology...’ THE HERALD ON TOM DALE COMPANY'S I INFINITE

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org 154 COLLECTIVE

THE ADVENTURES OF WALTER LEMONFACE TUE 31 MAY

NEXT STEPS FOR OLDER CHILDREN

If you feel that your child is moving beyond the age group of our Imagine series, or would like to attend with older siblings, we have some suggestions of shows that are suitable for older children.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Recommended for ages 6+ (page 5)

A fun-filled, interactive experience for the whole family… Join adventurer, fearless inventor and connoisseur of carrots Walter Lemonface as he hunts for Rhubarb Ogres, battles ghosts and finds a new adventure around every corner. Oh… and he has a yellow head, that looks like a lemon! Sometimes scary, often touching and always with a healthy sprinkling of silly, the adventures of walter lemonface features live animation, music and storytelling, creating a perfect half term treat.

OPUS 7

Recommended for ages 5+ (page 11)

154 Collective are a group of Yorkshire based artists that create exciting new work, crossing a variety of art forms.

‘The children (and parents) were entranced!’ AUDIENCE MEMBER MAIN STAGE 2.30pm TICKETS £7 RUNNING TIME 55 minutes AGE RECOMMENDATION 3 - 10 years

IMAGINE SAVER

TIPPING POINT

Recommended for ages 7+ (page 13)

3 SHOWS FOR £1 8 4 SHOWS FOR £2 0* *MUS T BE BOOK ED TOGE THER

Fundraising event in aid of Kirklees Theatre Trust

SOUNDS CELLAR FOLK

Music is in the lifeblood of our region, and our programme wouldn’t be complete without sounds.

FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE

JAYWALKERS

A French born singer, Flossie Malavialle has been based in the North East of England since 2002. Her repertoire spans well-established folk songs to jazz standards, from blues numbers to Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel classics.

bbc Young Folk Awards finalists in 2008, Jaywalkers are now one of the most exciting and entertaining young bands on the British folk scene.

SAT 13 FEBRUARY

SAT 27 FEBRUARY

This eclectic selection of events includes big bands, well-loved standards, music that moves us, award-winning artists and we welcome back the riotous and fabulous grand northern ukulele festival.

‘I've always loved playing at the lbt. My previous concerts there have always been particularly memorable thanks to the warm welcome from great audiences. Performing on the main stage with the Skelmanthorpe Prospect Brass Band in 2016 will be something very special. I can't wait!’ ROGER DAVIES

21 YEARS

OF INSPIRING PERFORMANCE

With 12 albums to draw on, her mixed set, featuring powerful yet sensitive renditions of songs, combined with a quaint northern twang and humorous banter, make for a great evening of Cellar Folk.

Mike, Jay and Lucille are influenced by folk, bluegrass, Western swing and jazz, creating innovative and exhilarating music that’s still deeply rooted in tradition.

Support comes from Fireside Knights, a song writing trio from Yorkshire who play a mixture of new and traditional folk.

Now with three albums and countless live gigs to their credit, the Jaywalkers repertoire includes some blistering, up-tempo instrumentals and traditional songs as well as many originals.

SYNGENTA CELLAR 8.00pm TICKETS £10

SYNGENTA CELLAR 8.00pm TICKETS £12

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org FRIENDS OF THE LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE

AN EVENING WITH SIMEON WOOD THU 7 APRIL

ROGER DAVIES

AND THE SKELMANTHORPE PROSPECT BRASS BAND

THE UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD BIG BAND

SAT 16 APRIL

SAT 9 APRIL

Renowned singer songwriter Roger Davies returns to the lbt with the Skelmanthorpe Prospect Brass Band to present a superb evening of brass and contemporary folk music.

An unmissable event for any big band lover, this year’s University of Huddersfield Big Band will include All or Nothing at All, April in Paris, Don't Be That Way and many more.

Today Simeon enjoys performing all over the world playing on an ever-increasing array of unusual instruments, all with unique sounds. When he’s not touring Simeon is regularly commissioned to write music for television and theatre.

Under the baton of Philip Garlick, the band are dynamic musicians, producing fabulous music to bring smiles to the faces of audiences in Yorkshire and beyond. Roger is one of today’s most engaging songwriters; the composer of Huddersfield Town, Brighouse On Saturday Night and Peter Brook’s Paintings, he has previously enjoyed sold out shows in the lbt Syngenta Cellar but this special collaboration will take place in the splendour of our main stage.

The full range of the Big Band tradition will be explored including music from Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich and a special performance of the Artie Shaw Clarinet Concerto by final year student George Winsall. There will be vocal numbers from a range of new singers in the band as well as a variety of solo features.

SYNGENTA CELLAR 7.30pm TICKETS £10

MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £12

A musician of dazzling versatility, inspiration and fun. Simeon was born in Huddersfield and started playing the flute at the age of eight. The town nurtured his talent through its youth orchestras, music competitions and a string of dedicated teachers.

SOUNDS CELLAR FOLK

ASHLEY HUTCHINGS & BECKY MILLS

A GRAND NORTHERN UKULELE FESTIVAL SAT 28 & SUN 29 MAY

SAT 14 MAY

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award’s ‘Most Influential Folk Album Of All Time’ winner, the legendary Ashley Hutchings returns to the LBT with a chronicle of his fascinating life and career. Renowned founder of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band, Ashley will share stories, poetry and songs on a journey through his life story. He will be accompanied by former Waking the Witch band member now turned solo artist Becky Mills on vocals and guitar. Support will be provided by local favourites Jenny and the Good Men. ‘Ashley Hutchings is the single most important figure in English folk rock.’ BOB DYLAN SYNGENTA CELLAR 8.00pm TICKETS £12 24

Returning after last year’s sell-out weekend, a grand northern ukulele festival brings all that is best about live music to the Lawrence Batley Theatre. The festival brings together top international players such as YouTube star Danielle Ate the Sandwich, folk and bluegrass legends The Quiet American and a raft of new and exciting talent from all corners of the country. Throughout the festival, workshops offer a chance to make something, learn something and get involved. The legendary jam sessions truly support the festival motto: ‘play what you love and love what you play’. WHOLE BUILDING Sat 28 May 3.00pm - 9.00pm / Sun 29 May 12.00pm - 6.00pm TICKETS Weekend £44 / Sat £38 / Sun £35 + selected concessions

LAUGHS

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org THU 11 FEBRUARY

The lbt is your place for a great night out. Nowhere is this better seen than at our Comedy Cellars. Intimate, atmospheric and relaxed, our perennially popular monthly Comedy Cellars are the perfect way to experience stand-up in all its spontaneous, electrifying glory.

THU 3 MARCH

RESIDENT COMPERE Anthony J Brown ALL SHOWS SYNGENTA CELLAR 8.00pm TICKETS £10 THU 14 APRIL

21 YEARS

OF INSPIRING PERFORM ANCE

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL SPECIAL PREVIEW

THU 12 MAY

THU 9 JUNE

DAMIAN CLARK

BETHANY BLACK

High octane Aussie storyteller as seen on The Apprentice: You’re Fired.

Star of Channel 4’s Cucumber Banana Tofu trilogy and Dr Who.

‘The world’s wittiest machine gun. Let yourself in on one of the funniest secrets in town’ the scotsman

‘Genius’ matt lucas ‘Marvellous’ russell t davis

ROB ROUSE

HARRIET DYER

Award winning wit from 8 Out of 10 Cats, Dave’s One Night Stand, Celebrity Juice, The Friday Night Project, Mad Mad World and Live at the Comedy Store.

Splendidly surreal quips from itv’s Stand Up Hero. ‘Undoubtedly one to watch’ the guardian

MATT RICHARDSON

ROB MULHOLLAND

Ever-rising star from Fake Reaction, Celebrity Juice, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, The Xtra Factor, Viral Tap and many more. Leicester Comedy Festival award winner.

A lanky, laconic Yorkshireman with an eye for the unusual, twisting the mundane into something strange and hilarious. ‘Very, very tall and equally as talented’ time out

DALISO CHAPONDA

BRENNAN REECE

From Malawi via Canada, he’s featured on Just For Laughs, The World Stands Up and Live at Jongleurs.

Reigning English Comedian of the Year, winner of Sky One’s Don’t Stop Me Now and Joe Lycett’s UK theatre tour support.

‘Raw Eddie Murphy confidence, cheek and super-polished style’ nerve

‘Hilarious, rubber-faced bright young talent’ the stage

DAN NIGHTINGALE

JOHN WHALE

As seen on John Bishop’s Only Joking. Received 5 five star reviews for his 2015 Edinburgh show.

Florid imagery from a bus obsessive. ‘His whole stage presence was just superb... simply brilliant’ giggle beats

‘Brilliantly crafted stories, a keen and instinctive eye for comedy’ broadway baby

SPOTLIGHT Kirklees is alive with talent.

The lbt provides the chance to perform on a professional stage with access to our equipment and expertise. Over 21 years, tens of thousands of children have enjoyed this opportunity and students have shown their talent to friends, colleagues and prospective employers. This season we welcome the first appearance by Huddersfield University Drama Society.

PENNINE SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

HEAVY ARTS THEATRE SCHOOL

RASTRICK HIGH SCHOOL

STRICTLY PENNINE

GREASE

RASTRICK’S GOT TALENT

TUE 23 - THU 25 FEBRUARY

FRI 4 & SAT 5 MARCH

strictly pennine celebrates all styles of dance from schools taking part in the Pennine Sports Partnership.

Dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socks and watch Danny and Sandy fall in love all over again – grease is still the word!

This year’s strictly pennine will be the biggest yet. Talented pupils from 47 schools will be performing a wide variety of dance styles. Enjoy an engaging, colourful and energetic evening.

Featuring all your favourite songs from the original film, including Grease, You're the One That I Want and Greased Lightning, this high energy production promises to be great fun for all the family.

MAIN STAGE Tue & Wed 6.00pm & 8.00pm Thu 6.00pm TICKETS £6

MAIN STAGE Fri 4 March 7.30pm Sat 5 March 2.00pm & 6.30pm TICKETS £13 - £6 / £9 concessions

UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD DRAMA SOCIETY

SAT 12 MARCH

BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS

It’s time to shine for students of Rastrick High School as they showcase their talents in this established annual evening of entertainment.

The University of Huddersfield Drama Society come to the lbt for the first time to demonstrate their talents in Dennis Potter’s charming yet profound play.

With acts including singers, pianists, dance crews, drummers, contemporary dancers and rock bands, this extravaganza displays the diverse talent of youngsters today.

blue remembered hills follows a group of naïve West Country children in wartime Britain whose hilarious childhood games and friendships lead them into an unexpected tragic event. Is anyone ever truly innocent?

MAIN STAGE 7.00pm TICKETS £6

SYNGENTA CELLAR 7.45pm TICKETS £10

WED 16 & THU 17 MARCH

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org KIRKLEES COUNCIL COMMUNITIES AND LEISURE SERVICES

JUMP & SHOUT

TUE 22 & WED 23 MARCH

BABYBALLET SONG AND DANCE ACADEMY

LAUREN J DANCE ACADEMY

TWINKLE AND TEDDY’S GRAND ADVENTURE

ENTER THE CIRCUS

SAT 21 MAY

SUN 15 MAY

THE UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD GRADUATE FASHION SHOW

TUE 14 JUNE

A festival where performers aged three and above take centre stage and shine in the spotlight. The youngsters of Kirklees will be breaking out their fancy footwork with a variety of dance routines, gaining valuable experience and showing off their talent on the lbt stage.

MAIN STAGE 7.30pm TICKETS £7 / £5 concessions

Budding ballet stars from across Halifax are taking to the stage to showcase the fantastic Babyballet show twinkle and teddy’s grand adventure. This fun and enjoyable introduction to the wonderful world of dancing and theatre features all of the Babyballet characters. From the fast paced action of the cowboys and cowgirls in the Wild West to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy through the fun-loving bears' adventures. MAIN STAGE 1.00pm & 5.00pm TICKETS £12 / £10 concessions

The Lauren J Dance Academy proudly present their annual showcase for 2016, enter the circus. Sure to impress, enter the circus features pupils aged two through to adults. Witness amazing acrobatics, beautiful ballet, funky freestyle and listen out for the vocal talents of the academy’s musical theatre pupils. You’ll have your hands clapping and feet tapping with the selection of varied songs from well-loved classics to up-to-date chart hits.

MAIN STAGE 7.00pm TICKETS £11 / £9 concessions

the university of huddersfield graduate fashion show showcases a stunning collection designed by some of the country’s most talented fashion graduates. Previous Huddersfield fashion students have gone on to enjoy careers with the world’s leading brands - this is your opportunity to spot the design stars of the future, the trends of tomorrow, and enjoy a thrilling evening of style, glamour and fashion.

MAIN STAGE 7.00pm & 9.00pm TICKETS £12 27

SPOTLIGHT THE UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD GRADUATE COSTUME SHOW

HUDDERSFIELD NEW COLLEGE

BODYROCKERZ SCHOOL OF DANCE

HUDDERSFIELD NEW BODYROCKERZ COLLEGE FASHION SHOW BEATZ

FRI 17 JUNE

SUN 19 JUNE

The huddersfield new college fashion show is a fantastic demonstration of the creativity, skill and artistic capability of New College students.

bodyrockerz beatz is an exhilarating snapshot into the world of dance, with talent from all ages.

THE EMMA COOMBS DANCE ACADEMY TH

10 ANNIVERSARY SHOW

SAT 25 & SUN 26 JUNE

THU 16 JUNE

Be part of a thrilling trip through mystery, romance and drama with the university of huddersfield graduate costume show. This dramatic show celebrates the successes of this year’s costume students with an amazing selection of work for film, TV and the stage. Delight in work that is inspiring, outrageous and captivating in a stunning setting, with students’ personal interpretations of the icons of literature, cinema, opera and more.

MAIN STAGE 7.00pm & 9.00pm TICKETS £12 28

It marks the end of the academic year for the as and a Level Textile students, who have been following a pathway of fashion, embroidery, surface embellishment and garment construction for the past year.

MAIN STAGE 8.00pm TICKETS £5

Featuring current popular dance styles such as freestyle, street dance, slow dance and rock ‘n’ roll, some of the routines have reached national acclaim. Bodyrockerz will dazzle you with high energy routines and sensational costumes.

MAIN STAGE 1.00pm TICKETS £12 / £10 concessions

The Emma Coombs Dance Academy celebrate their 10th anniversary, and present their 10th showcase at the Lawrence Batley Theatre. Join the celebration with all of the students (from tiny to adult) and enjoy excerpts of ballet, modern, tap, street dance and musical theatre. With something for everyone, and with special anniversary surprises, it will be a night to remember.

MAIN STAGE Sat 25 June 6.30pm Sun 26 June 12.30pm & 6.00pm TICKETS £13 / £11 concessions

YOUNG COMPANY lbt believes that all children and young people should have access to creative opportunities. This is why we raise funds to lead free, open access activities across the district for children and young people, as well as running a resident Young Company here at Queen Street. All of our young people’s activities include a trip to the theatre so that they can experience the magic of live performance. STAGE DOOR ONE FOR AGES 6 - 8

ARE YOU LOOKIN G FOR A GREAT FIRST STEP INTO DRAMA?

Stage Door Classes are all about imagination and discovery, where you can learn about storytelling and let your creativity grow. Get hands-on with drama, build your confidence, and have fun.

WANT TO TAKE YOUR THEAT RE TRAINI NG TO A MORE ADVANCED LEVEL?

and want to learn more, Studio Classes begin with an audition. For those who are passionate about drama please contact audition an this is an opportunity to take an in-depth look at different techniques. To book letscreate@thelbt.org STUDIO ONE FOR AGES 9 - 11

Thursdays 5.00pm – 7.00pm

STUDIO TWO FOR AGES 12 - 14

Mondays 7.00pm – 9.00pm or Wednesdays 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Saturdays 10.30am – 12.00pm

STUDIO THREE FOR AGES 15 - 17

Mondays 5.00pm – 7.00pm

visit our website or contact letscreate@thelbt.org Spring term begins on Monday 11 January – for further information or to enrol,

PLAY IN A WEEK: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS MON 15 – FRI 19 FEBRUARY

This February half term, young people aged 6-9 can join the around the world in 80 days whirlwind journey by taking part in our play in a week.

ATTIC THEATRE Mon 15 February 1.00pm – 5.00pm Tue 16 – Fri 19 February 10.00am – 1.00pm PERFORMANCE Fri 19 February, 12.30pm PRICE £67 / Kirklees Passport Holders £46

ARTS AWARD AT THE LBT The lbt offers opportunities for young people to earn Arts Award accreditations, recognised by Trinity College, London. Contact rose@thelbt.org for more information.

The week will start by seeing New International Encounter’s high speed, madcap adventure around the world in 80 days at the lbt (p5). Drawing on inspiration from the show, the group will create their own exciting around the world in 80 days performance to share with family and friends on Friday afternoon. 29

SUPPORT US For almost 20 years, community groups and other supporters campaigned for a professional theatre in Huddersfield. Their efforts brought about the opening of the Lawrence Batley Theatre in 1994. Last season we launched our 21st birthday appeal to ensure that we don’t just survive, but thrive, over the next 21 years. One way in which you can help is to buy tickets for the fantastic events on these pages and tell your friends about us. You might like to join the Friends of the Lawrence Batley Theatre – for more information, visit our website or drop in to box office. But we’d really like to ask if you could make a donation to support our ambitions for the future. We have three priorities. These are...

PROGRAMME FUND As arts funding declines, help us to maintain the quality and range of our programme. This fund will support our dance, drama or opera events and ensure that the best companies keep coming back to Huddersfield.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S FUND Help us to ensure that local children and young people have access to the arts. This fund will support our young company, young people’s bursary scheme and outreach activity, enabling young people to grow their skills and confidence – whatever their circumstances.

THEATRE RENEWAL FUND After 21 years hard at work, our Grade II* listed building is in need of maintenance, our auditorium needs renovating and our theatrical equipment needs replacing. We want to begin a comprehensive renewal programme to see our theatre fit for the next 21 years.

We’d like to ask if you could pledge a gift of £21, but any contribution would be welcome and a little help can go a long way. Thanks to Gift Aid, we can also claim 25p from the Inland Revenue on every pound that you donate. If you are able to pledge a donation please complete and return this form, contact our box office on 01484 430528 or complete our online form at www.thelbt.org. 30

Y EA RS

OF IN SP IR IN G PE RF OR MA NC E

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 | ONLINE www.thelbt.org

lbt 21st birthday campaign fund – donation form NAME:

TEL (DAYTIME)

ADDRESS:

TEL (EVE) EMAIL

POSTCODE

I would like to pledge £21/ other amount …………………. (please specify) To be used for:

PROGRAMME FUND

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S FUND

THEATRE RENEWAL FUND

I would like the lbt (Kirklees Theatre Trust, registered charity number 510693) to reclaim tax on all donations I make. I confirm that I am a UK taxpayer and that I pay sufficient Income/Capital Gains Tax to equal the tax that the lbt will claim against my donation.

SIGNATURE DATE

I would like to make this payment as a

SINGLE DONATION

GIFT AID DECLARATION

MONTHLY DONATION

ANNUAL DONATION

Please send your completed form to the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Queen’s Square, Queen Street, Huddersfield HD1 2SP If you’d like more information on donating to the lbt please contact our Deputy Director Karen O’Neill on 01484 484404 / karen@thelbt.org

I would like to pay by

CHEQUE

CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD

Please enclose and make payable to Kirklees Theatre Trust.

We will contact you to take payment or you can complete the secure payment form on our website.

Please note that we will keep records of donations to monitor the progress of our 21st Birthday Fund. If you do not wish to be contacted in future please let us know.

THANK YOU 31

YOUR VISIT BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 boxoffice@thelbt.org

ONLINE www.thelbt.org The Lawrence Batley Theatre does not charge booking fees.

Box Office opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am - 5pm

POSTAL

Lawrence Batley Theatre, Queen’s Square, Queen Street, Huddersfield HD1 2SP

ADMINISTRATION

Phone 01484 425282 Email theatre@thelbt.org Fax 01484 425336

(open later on performance nights)

ACCESS

STAGE

STALLS M N P

TIER 1

BO XC

This brochure is available in large print or braille formats upon request.

BO X U

Please discuss your access requirements with our Box Office staff when making your booking and we will be happy to help. Carers may be entitled to a complimentary ticket.

BO X

A B C D E F G H J K L

Q R S

XC BO

TIER 2 T U

GROUP BOOKINGS Groups will normally be entitled to one complimentary ticket for every ten purchased.

MAIN AUDITORIUM SEATING

Seating is unreserved for the Syngenta Cellar and Main Stage in Studio Format.

CONCESSIONS Where available, concessions apply to under 16s, over 60s, students, unemployed persons in receipt of benefits, Kirklees Passport holders and people who are registered disabled. Proof of entitlement is required.

SPECIAL OFFERS Where these apply they cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer including Friends of the Lawrence Batley Theatre discount. For full terms and information on joining the Friends go to www.thelbt.org

HOW TO FIND US JOIN US ON FACEBOOK visit www.facebook.com/thelbt.org

THE SMALL PRINT Details of events are correct at the time of print. Please contact box office in advance to confirm listings and availability. All ticket purchases are non-refundable. Full terms and conditions available at www.thelbt.org For further information on age suitability, please ask.

We are located in Huddersfield Town Centre, close to the University and just a minute’s walk from the Kingsgate shopping centre.

PARKING

If you are arriving by car, follow the signage on the ring road to the Market Hall multi-storey car park in Alfred Street. There are a limited number of parking spaces for disabled badge holders on Queen Street. There is also an area on Queen Street for drop off only.

RAIL AND BUS

The rail and bus stations are just a few minutes’ walk from the theatre. The Free Town Bus stops outside the theatre and runs until 5.30pm Monday to Friday (college days only) and until 4:40pm on Saturdays and non-college days.

SAINSBURY’S KINGSGATE

UNIVERSITY

ROOM HIRE Our grade II* listed building in the centre of Huddersfield is a unique venue for your meeting or event. The lbt’s range of versatile, convenient spaces is available for hire during the daytime and evenings throughout the week. Full technical support is provided, and we have a variety of furniture to enable your desired layout. Queenie’s offers a range of fresh, delicious catering options on site, and as a licensed premises we can serve a range of alcoholic beverages from one of two bars within our event spaces. The lbt’s friendly welcome and town centre location makes us the ideal setting for your community meeting, book club, business conference or function. If you’re interested in hiring one of our rooms, please contact our House & Hospitality Manager Katrina Ward on 01484 484412 / katrina@thelbt.org.

Queenie’s is the lbt’s own independent coffee shop, set in the Georgian splendour of the theatre’s courtyard. Queenie’s seasonal menu includes a variety of freshly made to order foods. All our ingredients come from Kirklees suppliers, with indulgent cakes and sweet treats courtesy of Huddersfield’s own award-winning ProperMaid Cakes. We’re proud to be the only shop in Huddersfield serving Chartley’s fair trade coffee, as well as Yorkshire Tea and speciality teas from Teapigs. We also have the best outdoor seating in Huddersfield town centre! OPENING TIMES Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

/QueeniesCoffeeShopHuddersfield

@QueeniesHudds 33

2.00PM,4.00PM,6.00PM TORTOISE & THE HARE

FEBRUARY COMEDY CELLAR SHAFTED!

7.45PM 7.30PM 8.00PM

SAT 6 MON 8 THU 11 THU 11

JAYWALKERS OPUS 7

2.15PM, 7.00PM 2.15PM, 7.00PM 7.45PM 7.45PM 7.45PM 7.45PM 7.45PM 6.00PM, 8.00PM 6.00PM, 8.00PM 6.00PM 7.30PM 8.00PM 7.00PM 7.30PM

MON 15 TUE 16 TUE 16 WED 17 THU 18 FRI 19 SAT 20 TUE 23 WED 24 THU 25 FRI 26 SAT 27 SUN 28 MON 29

FLASHDANCE

7.15PM 7.15PM 7.15PM 7.30PM 7.15PM 2.00PM, 7.15PM 7.00PM 1.00PM 7.45PM

TUE 8 WED 9 THU 10 THU 10 FRI 11 SAT 12 SAT 12 SUN 13 MON 14

7.30PM 2.30PM 7.30PM

WED 23 TUE 29 WED 30

7.30PM

TUE 22

FLASHDANCE

2.15PM, 7.30PM 7.30PM

SAT 19

FLASHDANCE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER

7.30PM 11.00AM, 2.00PM

FRI 18 SAT 19 MON 21

BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS

7.45PM

THU 17

BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS

STONES IN HIS POCKETS

DIGITOPIA

JUMP & SHOUT

THE BROKE ‘N’ BEAT COLLECTIVE

FLASHDANCE

7.45PM 7.30PM

WED 16

FLASHDANCE

A TASTE OF HONEY

FOLK

A TASTE OF HONEY

QUEENIE’S COFFEE HOUSE NIGHT

POLARI UP NORTH

GREASE

THU 17

7.30PM

7.00PM – 9.00PM

MON 7

7.30PM

7.45PM

SAT 5

TUE 15

THE 101 GREATEST PLAYS WITH MICHAEL BILLINGTON HUDDERSFIELD LITERATURE FESTIVAL ROVE

2.00PM, 6.30PM

SAT 5

WED 16

RASTRICK’S GOT TALENT

7.30PM

FRI 4

JOANNE HARRIS AND THE STORYTIME BAND

7.00PM

FRI 4

COMPANY MARCH COMEDY CELLAR

THE THEATRE CHIPPING NORTON AND THE DUKES LANCASTER

TOM DALE COMPANY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOKO DANCE

KIRKLEES COUNCIL COMMUNITIES AND LEISURE SERVICES

20 STORIES HIGH & THEATRE-RITES

WOODHOUSE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY

CLYDEBUILT PUPPET THEATRE

WOODHOUSE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY

UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD DRAMA SOCIETY

WOODHOUSE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY

UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD DRAMA SOCIETY

WOODHOUSE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY

J FERGUS EVANS AND RHIANNON ARMSTRONG

RASTRICK HIGH SCHOOL

HUDDERSFIELD THESPIANS

NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY WALES

HUDDERSFIELD THESPIANS

LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE

HUDDERSFIELD LITERATURE FESTIVAL

HEAVY ARTS THEATRE SCHOOL

HUDDERSFIELD LITERATURE FESTIVAL

ROB ROUSE | HARRIET DYER

SHOW TITLE 8.00PM

THU 3

CIRCA TSUICA

MUSIC THEATRE WALES

PENNINE SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

JIMBO PRODUCTIONS

NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCOUNTER

CELLAR FOLK

THE JOHN GODBER COMPANY & THEATRE ROYAL WAKEFIELD

DAMIAN CLARK | BETHANY BLACK

THE JOHN GODBER COMPANY & THEATRE ROYAL WAKEFIELD

HARRY GILES

NORTHERN BALLET

LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE

COMPANY

QUEENIE’S COFFEE SHOP

SPOTLIGHT

PAGE

5 5

PAGE

HOME PROGRAMME

MARCH

OPUS 7

THE DEVIL INSIDE

STRICTLY PENNINE

YORKSHIRE MIXTURES 3

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE

7.30PM 8.00PM

FRI 12 SAT 13

SHAFTED!

EVERYTHING I BOUGHT AND HOW IT MADE ME FEEL

SHOW TITLE SEASON PREVIEW

6.30PM – 8.30PM

TUE 2

LAUGHS

PAY WHAT YOU DECIDE

WHOLE BUILDING

FEBRUARY

SYNGENTA CELLAR

SOUNDS

IMAGINE

MAIN STAGE

STAGE

IN MOTION

PERFORMANCE

PROGRAMME

DIARY

AN EVENING WITH SIMEON WOOD

APRIL COMEDY CELLAR HD100

7.45PM 7.30PM 7.30PM 8.00PM

THU 7 THU 7 SAT 9 THU 14 THU 14

BEST OF BE FESTIVAL 42ND STREET 42ND STREET 42ND STREET 42ND STREET

7.15PM 7.45PM 7.15PM 7.15PM 7.15PM 7.15PM 2.15PM, 7.15PM

MON 25 MON 25 TUE 26 WED 27 THU 28 FRI 29 SAT 30

MAY COMEDY CELLAR HMS PINAFORE & COX AND BOX HMS PINAFORE & COX AND BOX ASHLEY HUTCHINGS & BECKY MILLS

7.15PM 8.00PM 7.15PM 2.15PM, 7.15PM

THU 12 THU 12 FRI 13 SAT 14

QUEENIE’S COFFEE HOUSE NIGHT

A GRAND NORTHERN UKULELE FESTIVAL

MEN & GIRLS DANCE

FASHION SHOW 7.45PM 6.30PM 12.30PM, 6.00PM

MON 20 SAT 25 SUN 26

8.00PM 1.00PM

FRI 17

GRADUATE FASHION SHOW GRADUATE COSTUME SHOW

7.00PM, 9.00PM 7.00PM, 9.00PM

TUE 14 THU 16 SUN 19

THE 39 STEPS

2.15PM, 7.30PM

SAT 11

JUNE COMEDY CELLAR

10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

10 TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

A MACHINE THEY’RE SECRETLY BUILDING

BODYROCKERZ BEATZ

THE 39 STEPS

8.00PM 7.30PM

THU 9

THE 39 STEPS

MEN & GIRLS DANCE

WILDEST DREAMS

FRI 10

7.30PM 7.30PM

WED 8

7.30PM

TUE 7 THU 9

2.00PM, 7.45PM 7.30PM

SAT 4 SAT 4

7.30PM 7.45PM

FRI 3

7.45PM

THU 2 FRI 3

WILDEST DREAMS WILDEST DREAMS

SHOW TITLE 7.45PM

THE ADVENTURES OF WALTER LEMONFACE

WED 1

12.00PM – 6.00PM 2.30PM

SUN 29 TUE 31

A GRAND NORTHERN UKULELE FESTIVAL

FEWER EMERGENCIES

TIPPING POINT

RIGHTS OF PASSAGE

JUNE

3.00PM – 9.00PM

SAT 28

ENTER THE CIRCUS

7.00PM

7.30PM

FRI 20 7.45PM

7.30PM

THU 19 SAT 21

TIPPING POINT

7.30PM

TUE 17

TWINKLE AND TEDDY’S GRAND ADVENTURE

8.00PM 1.00PM, 5.00PM

SAT 14 SUN 15

HMS PINAFORE & COX AND BOX

7.00PM – 9.00PM

THE MERRY WIVES THE MERRY WIVES

7.30PM 2.30PM, 7.30PM

FRI 6 SAT 7 7.15PM

THE MERRY WIVES

7.30PM

THU 5

MON 9

THE MERRY WIVES

WED 4

WED 11

SHOW TITLE 7.30PM

MAY

42ND STREET

THE UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD BIG BAND

7.30PM 7.30PM

FRI 15

HD100

SAT 16

MON 23

COMPANY BARELY METHODICAL TROUPE IN ASSOCIATION WITH LBT

FRIENDS OF THE LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE

THE EMMA COOMBS DANCE ACADEMY

PROTO-TYPE THEATER

BODYROCKERZ SCHOOL OF DANCE

HUDDERSFIELD NEW COLLEGE

THE UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD

HUDDERSFIELD THESPIANS

DAN NIGHTINGALE | JOHN WHALE

HUDDERSFIELD THESPIANS

FEVERED SLEEP

DICK AND LOTTIE

FEVERED SLEEP

DICK AND LOTTIE

COMPANY

154 COLLECTIVE

PROPER JOB THEATRE COMPANY

LAUREN J DANCE ACADEMY

OCKHAM’S RAZOR

ARTEMIS THEATRE COMPANY

BABYBALLET SONG AND DANCE ACADEMY

CELLAR FOLK

HUDDERSFIELD GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY

DALISO CHAPONDA | BRENNAN REECE

HUDDERSFIELD GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY

LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE

NORTHERN BROADSIDES

COMPANY

HUDDERSFIELD LIGHT OPERA COMPANY

HUDDERSFIELD LIGHT OPERA COMPANY HUDDERSFIELD LIGHT OPERA COMPANY

HUDDERSFIELD LIGHT OPERA COMPANY

BE FESTIVAL

HUDDERSFIELD LIGHT OPERA COMPANY

CHOL THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH LBT

MATT RICHARDSON | ROB MULHOLLAND

CHOL THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH LBT

ROGER DAVIES & SKELMANTHORPE PROSPECT BRASS BAND

KIN

SHOW TITLE 7.30PM

APRIL

PAGE

17 17

PAGE

BOX OFFICE 01484 430528 www.thelbt.org

WHAT’S ON Spring / Summer 2016

21RS

Y E A PIRINNGCE INS OF ORMA F PER